Refrigerator, refrigerating or warming apparatus, and vacuum adiabatic body

ABSTRACT

A vacuum adiabatic body includes a first plate, a second plate, a sealing part that seals the first plate and the second plate to provide a space that has a predetermined temperature and is in a vacuum state, a support maintaining the space, a heat resistance unit reducing an amount of heat transferred between the first plate and the second plate, a port through which air in the third is discharged, and a heat exchange module coming into contact with an inner surface of a cavity provided by the first plate member and the second plate member so as to perform heat exchange.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, a refrigerating orwarming apparatus, and a vacuum adiabatic body.

BACKGROUND ART

Refrigerators are apparatuses for storing products such as foodsreceived in the refrigerator at a low temperature including sub-zerotemperatures. As a result of this action, there is an advantage thatuser's intake with respect to the products may be improved, or a storageperiod of the products may be lengthened.

Refrigerators are classified into indoor refrigerators using acommercial power source or outdoor refrigerator using a portable powersource. In addition, in recent years, a refrigerator for a vehicle,which is used after fixedly mounted on the vehicle, is increasing insupply. The refrigerator for the vehicle is more increasing in demanddue to an increase in supply of vehicles and an increase inpremium-class vehicle.

A conventional configuration of the refrigerator for the vehicle will bedescribed.

First, there is an example in which heat in the refrigerator is forciblydischarged to the outside of the refrigerator by using a thermoelement.However, there is a limitation in that a cooling rate is slow due to lowthermal efficiency of the thermoelement to deteriorate user'ssatisfaction.

For another example, there is an example in which a refrigerant or coldair is drawn from an air conditioning system installed forair-conditioning an entire interior of the vehicle and used as a coolingsource for the refrigerator for the vehicle.

In this example, there is a disadvantage that a separate flow path ofair or refrigerant is required to draw the air or refrigerator from theair conditioning system of the vehicle. Also, there is a limitation thatlow-temperature energy is lost during the movement of the air orrefrigerant through the flow path. Also, there is a limitation that aposition at which the refrigerator for the vehicle is installed islimited to a position that is adjacent to the air conditioning system ofthe vehicle due to the above-described limitations.

For another example, there is an example in which a refrigeration cycleusing a refrigerant is applied.

However, in this example, since a part constituting the refrigerationcycle is large in size, most of the parts are mounted on a trunk, andonly a door of a door of the refrigerator is opened to the inside of thevehicle. In this case, there is a limitation that a position forinstalling the refrigerator for the vehicle is limited. Also, there is alimitation that the trunk is significantly reduced in volume to reducean amount of cargo that is capable of being loaded in the trunk.

There is U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,211 as a representative example ofabove-mentioned another example. The technology of the cited documenthas the following limitations.

First, there is a limitation that an internal volume of the vehiclerefrigerator is reduced due to a large volume of the machine room. Thereis a limitation that the driver may not use the vehicle refrigeratorwithout stopping the driving when the driver alone drives the vehiclebecause the refrigerator is installed in the back seat, and also, sincethe door is opened forward, there is inconvenience that it may not putan object in the front. Since the cooling in the refrigerator isperformed by direct cooling, that is, by natural convection, it takes along time to cool the product. Since the machine room is directly openedto the outside, there is a high possibility that foreign substances aremixed into the inside of the machine room to cause a failure. There is alimitation that the suctioned air is mixed again because the suction andexhaust of the air are not separated from each other to deteriorate heatefficiency. There is a limitation that inconvenience is caused to theuser due to noise of the machine room according to use of thecompressor.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Embodiments also provide a refrigerating or warming apparatus that iscapable of increasing a capacity of a refrigerator, and a vacuumadiabatic body.

Embodiments also provide a refrigerating or warming apparatus that iscapable of solving a limitation in which products accommodated in therefrigerator is slowly cooled, and a vacuum adiabatic body.

Embodiments provide a refrigerating or warming apparatus that is capableof improving energy efficiency, and a vacuum adiabatic body.

Embodiments provide a refrigerating or warming apparatus that is capableof suppressing inconvenient due to noise, and a vacuum adiabatic body.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, to increase capacity within a refrigerator, a vacuumadiabatic body includes: a first plate member and a second plate member,which define a third space that is in a vacuum state; and a heatexchange module coming into contact with an inner surface of the cavityprovided by the first plate member and the second plate member.

To solve the problem in which a product accommodated in the refrigeratoris slowly cooled, the heat exchange module may include: an evaporatorevaporating a refrigerant; and a first compartment in which anevaporation fan disposed on the evaporator to suction air passingthrough the evaporator and discharge the air to the cavity.

To accurately sense a temperature within the cavity, the heat exchangemodule may include: the evaporator; and a third compartment that ispartitioned from the first compartment, in which the evaporation fan isaccommodated, to accommodate a temperature sensor.

To brighten the inside of the cavity, the vacuum adiabatic body mayfurther include a second compartment that is partitioned from the firstcompartment and the third compartment to accommodate a lamp,

To improve accuracy in temperature sense of the temperature sensor, thesecond compartment may be interposed between the first compartment andthe third compartment. Also, the third compartment may be disposed at anapex of one side of the heat exchange module.

To apply a refrigeration cycle and allow a user to be easily accessible,the third compartment may be disposed in one direction with respect tothe first compartment, and a conduit passage, through which arefrigerant conduit passes, may be disposed in the other direction.

To more improve capacity within the refrigerator, the evaporation fanmay include a centrifugal fan and suctions air from a rear side todischarge the air downward.

In another embodiment, to improve energy efficiency, a refrigerating orwarming apparatus includes: a refrigerator bottom frame on which thecavity and the machine room are seated in parallel; a second heatexchange module accommodated in the cavity to correspond to one surfaceof the cavity to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged; and atemperature sensor provided in the second heat exchange module tomeasure a temperature of the cavity.

To improve accuracy in temperature sense within the cavity, thetemperature sensor may be disposed at an apex of an upper portion of thesecond heat exchange module. The temperature sensor may communicate withan inner space of the cavity.

To overcome inconvenience due to noise and increase capacity within therefrigerator, the second heat exchange module may include an evaporatordisposed at a lower side and a first compartment on which a sirocco fandisposed at an upper side of the evaporator is placed. To more increasethe capacity within the refrigerator, the sirocco fan may suction airthrough a rear side thereof and discharge air to a lower side thereof.

To improve accuracy in temperature sense of the temperature sensor, theother compartment may be disposed between the first compartment and thethird compartment in which the temperature sensor is disposed.

In further another embodiment, to secure sufficient capacity within arefrigerator, a refrigerating or warming apparatus includes: arefrigerator bottom frame on which the cavity and the machine room areseated; a second heat exchange module accommodated in the cavity tocorrespond to one surface of the cavity to allow the refrigerant to beheat-exchanged; and a cover defining an inner space of the second heatexchange module; and a fan disposed in the second heat exchange moduleto blow air.

To uniformly cool products within the refrigerator, the cover mayinclude: a rear cover; and a front cover comprising a cold air suctionport at a lower portion thereof to correspond to the rear cover and acold air discharge port at an approximately central height.

To improve efficiency in cold air circulation, the cold air dischargeportion may be disposed between one-two point and two-three point fromthe bottom of the cavity.

To uniformly cool a container to be accommodated, the cold air dischargeport may be disposed at a center in a left and right direction of thecavity to discharge cold air, which introduced from a lower side,forward.

To adjust a direction of the cold air, the cover may include a louver.

To allow a user to conveniently use the refrigerator, the louver maymove by being linked with a container holder supporting a container, orthe louver may include a vertical louver and an inclined louver.

Advantageous Effects

According to the vacuum adiabatic body includes: the first plate memberand the second plate member, which define the third space that is in thevacuum state; and the heat exchange module coming into contact with theinner surface of the cavity provided by the first plate member and thesecond plate member, the vacuum adiabatic body may be installed in thenarrow space, and the storage space for the product may increase toallow the user to conveniently use the refrigerator.

The heat exchange module may include: an evaporator evaporating arefrigerant; and a first compartment in which an evaporation fandisposed on the evaporator to suction air passing through the evaporatorand discharge the air to the cavity. Thus, the refrigerator may be moreefficiency used in the narrow space.

The heat exchange module may include a third compartment that ispartitioned form the first compartment, in which the evaporator and theevaporation fan are accommodated, to accommodate a temperature sensor tomore accurately sense the temperature within the cavity by using thetemperature sensor.

The second compartment that is partitioned from the first compartmentand the third compartment to accommodate a lamp may be further providedto prevent the heat transfer from occurring between the compartments andto allow the user to easily see the inside of the refrigerator.

The second compartment may be interposed between the first compartmentand the third compartment, and the third compartment may be disposed atan apex of one side of the heat exchange module. Thus, the temperaturesensor may accurately sense the inner environments of the cavityregardless of external other portions and operation.

The third compartment may be disposed in one direction with respect tothe first compartment, and a conduit passage, through which arefrigerant conduit passes, may be disposed in the other direction.Thus, the capacity within the refrigerator that operates by thecirculation of the refrigerant may be more largely increase, and thus,the user may conveniently take out the storage container.

The evaporation fan may include a centrifugal fan and suctions air froma rear side to discharge the air downward to reduce the decrease of themechanism, which causes the air flow, and noise.

The refrigerating or warming apparatus includes: the refrigerator bottomframe on which the cavity and the machine room are seated in parallel;the second heat exchange module accommodated in the cavity to correspondto one surface of the cavity to allow the refrigerant to beheat-exchanged; and the temperature sensor provided in the second heatexchange module to measure a temperature of the cavity. Thus, since thetemperature of the cavity is accurately measured and controlled,unnecessary wastes of energy may be reduced, and the capacity within therefrigerator may increase.

The temperature sensor may be disposed at the apex of an upper portionof the second heat exchange module. The temperature sensor maycommunicate with an inner space of the cavity to accurately measure theinner temperature of the cavity.

The second heat exchange module may include the evaporator disposed atthe lower side and the first compartment on which the sirocco fandisposed at an upper side of the evaporator is placed. Thus, the user'ssatisfaction due to the reduction of noise and the increase in capacitywithin the refrigerator may be improved.

The sirocco fan may suction air through a rear side thereof anddischarge air to a lower side thereof to more increase the capacitywithin the refrigerator.

The other compartment may be disposed between the first compartment andthe third compartment in which the temperature sensor is disposed. Thus,the sensed temperature of the cavity may be more accurate.

The refrigerating or warming apparatus includes: the refrigerator bottomframe on which the cavity and the machine room are seated; the secondheat exchange module accommodated in the cavity to correspond to onesurface of the cavity to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged; andthe cover defining an inner space of the second heat exchange module;and the fan disposed in the second heat exchange module to blow air.Thus, the capacity within the refrigerator may be secured, and thestorage container within the refrigerator may be uniformly adjusted intemperature.

The cover may include: a rear cover; and a front cover comprising a coldair suction port at a lower portion thereof to correspond to the rearcover and a cold air discharge port at an approximately central height.Thus, the product within the refrigerator may be uniformly adjusted intemperature.

The cold air discharge portion may be disposed between one-two point andtwo-three point from the bottom of the cavity. Thus, the cold air maymore uniformly circulate within the cavity.

The cold air discharge port may be disposed at a center in a left andright direction of the cavity to discharge cold air, which introducedfrom a lower side, forward. Thus, the cavity may be uniformly adjustedin temperature.

The cover may include the louver, and the louver may move by beinglinked with the container holder supporting the container. Also, thelouver may include a vertical louver and an inclined louver. Thus, theaction in which the container is uniformly adjusted in temperatureaccording to the operation of the louver and the action in which thecontainer designated by the user is quickly adjusted in temperature maybe performed together.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a console of thevehicle.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the inside of avehicle refrigerator.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection relationship between amachine room and a cavity.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporation module.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an air flow outside a machine room ofthe vehicle refrigerator.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hinge part adiabatic member.

FIGS. 8 to 11 are plan, front, bottom, and left views of the hinge partadiabatic member.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a relationshipbetween the evaporation module and a hinge part adiabatic member.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the evaporation module.

FIG. 14 is a schematic front view illustrating the inside of the cavityso as to explain a position of a cold air discharge port.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a discharge direction of cold air throughthe cold air discharge port.

FIGS. 16 to 18 are views for explaining experimental results of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a view when uniform cooling is performed according to anembodiment.

FIG. 20 is a view when quick cooling is performed according to anembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a view illustrating an example of a configuration of a coldair discharge louver.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are views illustrating another example of the cold airdischarge louver.

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating an internal configuration of a vacuumadiabatic body according to various embodiments.

FIG. 25 is a view of a conductive resistance sheet and a peripheralportion of the conductive resistance sheet.

FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used.

FIG. 27 is a graph obtained by comparing a vacuum pressure with gasconductivity.

BEST MODE

In the following description according to embodiments with reference tothe drawings, the same reference numerals are given to differentdrawings in the case of the same constituents.

Also, in the description of each drawing, the description will be madewith reference to the direction in which the vehicle is viewed from thefront of the vehicle, rather than the front viewed by the driver basedon the traveling direction of the vehicle. For example, the driver is onthe right, and the assistant driver is on the left.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, a seat 2 on which a user is seated is provided in avehicle 1. The seat 2 may be provided in a pair to be horizontallyspaced apart from each other. A console is disposed between the seats 2,and a driver places items that are necessary for driving or componentsthat are necessary for manipulating the vehicle in the console. Frontseats on which the driver and the assistant driver are seated may bedescribed as an example of the seats 2.

It should be understood that the vehicle includes various components,which are necessary for driving the vehicle, such as a moving devicesuch as a wheel, a driving device such as an engine, and a steeringdevice such as a steering wheel.

The refrigerator for the vehicle according to an embodiment may bepreferably placed in the console. However, an embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle refrigeratormay be installed in various spaces. For example, the vehiclerefrigerator may be installed in a space between rear seats, a door, aglove box, and a center fascia. This is one of factors that the vehiclerefrigerator according to an embodiment is capable of being installedonly when power is supplied, and a minimum space is secured. However, itis a great advantage of the embodiment in that it may be installed inthe console between the seats, which is limited in space due tolimitations in vehicle design.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the console of thevehicle.

Referring to FIG. 2, a console 3 may be provided as a separate part thatis made of a material such as a resin. A steel frame 98 may be furtherprovided below the console 3 to maintain strength of the vehicle, and asensor part 99 such as a sensor may be disposed in a spacing partbetween the console 3 and the steel frame 98. The sensor part (orsensor) 99 may be a part that is necessary for accurately sensing anexternal signal and measuring a signal at a position of the driver. Forexample, an airbag sensor that is directly connected to the life of thedriver may be mounted.

The console 3 may have a console space 4 therein, and the console space4 may be covered by a console cover 300. The console cover 300 may beinstalled to the console 3 in a fixed type. Thus, it is difficult thatexternal foreign substances are introduced into the console through theconsole cover 300. A vehicle refrigerator 7 is seated in the consolespace 4.

A suction port 5 may be provided in a right surface of the console 3 tointroduce air within the vehicle into the console space 4. The suctionport 5 may face the driver. An exhaust port 6 may be provided in a leftsurface of the console 3 to exhaust warmed air while the vehiclerefrigerator operates from the inside of the console space 4. Theexhaust port 6 may face the assistant driver. A grill may be provided ineach of the suction port 5 and the exhaust port 6 to prevent user's handfrom being inserted and thereby to provide safety, prevent an object,which falls from an upper side, from being introduced, and allow air tobe exhausted to flow downward so as not to be directed to the person.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the inside of thevehicle refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 3, the vehicle refrigerator 7 includes a refrigeratorbottom frame 8 supporting parts, a machine room 200 provided in a leftside of the refrigerator bottom frame 8, and a cavity 100 provided in aright side of the refrigerator bottom frame 8. The machine room 200 maybe covered by a machine room cover 700, and an upper side of the cavity100 may be covered by the console cover 300 and a door 800.

The machine room cover 700 may not only guide a passage of the coolingair, but also prevent foreign substances from being introduced into themachine room 200.

A controller 900 may be disposed on the machine room cover 700 tocontrol an overall operation of the vehicle refrigerator 7. Since thecontroller 900 is installed at the corresponding position, the vehiclerefrigerator 7 may operate without problems in a proper temperaturerange in a narrow space inside the console space 4.

That is to say, the controller 900 may be cooled by air flowing througha gap between the machine room cover 700 and the console cover 300 andseparated from an inner space of the machine room 200 by the machineroom cover 700. Thus, the controller 900 may not be affected by heatwithin the machine room 200.

The console cover 300 may not only cover an opened upper portion of theconsole space 4, but also cover an upper end edge of the cavity 100. Adoor 800 may be further installed on the console cover 300 to allow theuser to cover an opening through which products are accessible to thecavity 100. The door 800 may be opened by using rear portions of theconsole cover 300 and the cavity 100 as hinge points.

Here, the opening of the console cover 300, the door 800, and the cavity100 may be performed by conveniently manipulating the door 800 by theuser because the console cover 300, the door 800, and the cavity 100 arehorizontally disposed when viewed from the user and also disposed at arear side of the console.

A condensation module 500, a dryer 630, and a compressor 201 may besuccessively installed in the machine room 200 in a flow direction ofthe cooling air. A refrigerant conduit 600 for allowing the refrigerantto smoothly flow is provided in the machine room 200. A portion of therefrigerant conduit 600 may extend to the inside of the cavity 100 tosupply the refrigerant. The refrigerant conduit 600 may extend to theoutside of the cavity 100 through the upper opening through which theproducts are accessible to the cavity 100.

The cavity 100 has an opened top surface and five surfaces that arecovered by a vacuum adiabatic body 101. The cavity 100 may be thermallyinsulated by an individual vacuum adiabatic body or at least one or morevacuum adiabatic bodies communicating with each other. The cavity 100may be provided by the vacuum adiabatic body 101. Also, the cavity 100through which the products is accessible through one surface opened bythe vacuum adiabatic body 101 may be provided.

The vacuum adiabatic body 101 may include a first plate member 10providing a boundary of a low-temperature inner space of the cavity 100,a second plate member 20 providing a boundary of a high-temperatureouter space, and a conductive resistance sheet 60 blocking heat transferbetween the plate members 10 and 20. Since the vacuum adiabatic body 101has a thin adiabatic thickness to maximally obtain adiabatic efficiency,the cavity 100 having large capacity may be realized.

An exhaust and getter port for the exhaust of the inner space of thevacuum adiabatic body 101 and for installing a getter that maintains thevacuum state may be provided on one surface. The exhaust and getter port(or vacuum port) 40 may provide the exhaust and getter together to morecontribute to miniaturization of the vehicle refrigerator 7.

An evaporation module 400 may be installed in the cavity 100. Theevaporation module 400 may forcibly blow evaporation heat of therefrigerant introduced into the cavity 100 through the refrigerantconduit 600 into the cavity 100. The evaporation module may be disposedat a rear side within the cavity 100. Thus, the front space within thecavity, which is used by the user facing a front side, may increase evenlarger.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection relationship between themachine room and the cavity.

Referring to FIG. 4, the evaporation module 400 is accommodated into thecavity 100. That is to say, the evaporation module 400 is disposed inthe inner space of the cavity 100 having the vacuum adiabatic body 101as an outer wall. Thus, the machine room may be improved in spaceefficiency, and the cavity 100 may increase in inner space. This isbecause the vacuum adiabatic body achieves high adiabatic performanceeven though the vacuum adiabatic body has a thin thickness.

The refrigerant conduit 600 guiding the refrigerant into the evaporationmodule 400 is guided to the evaporation module 400 by passing over thetop surface of the cavity 100.

It may be considered that the refrigerant conduit 600 passes through thevacuum adiabatic body 101 to reduce a volume thereof. However, since thevehicle has many vibration, and the inside of the vacuum adiabatic body101 is maintained in considerably high vacuum state, the sealing of thecontact portion between the refrigerant conduit 600 and the vacuumadiabatic body 101 may be damaged. Thus, it is not preferable that therefrigerant conduit 600 passes through the vacuum adiabatic body 101.For example, air leakage due to vibration of the vehicle may occur. Ifthe air leaks from the vacuum adiabatic body, it may be expected thatthe adiabatic effect is significantly deteriorated.

The evaporation module 400 may be preferably installed to come intocontact with the hinge point of the door within the cavity 100, i.e., arear surface within the cavity 100. This is because a path that isnecessary for allow the refrigerant conduit 600 to extend up to theevaporation module 400 is as short as possible for ensuring the internalvolume of the cavity 100. Also, the inner volume of the cavity may bemaximized.

It is more preferable that the refrigerant conduit 600 passing over thevacuum adiabatic body 101 passes through the hinge point of the door. Ifthe evaporation module 400 is out of the hinge point of the door, thecapacity of the cavity and the low-temperature energy may be lost due tothe extension of the refrigerant conduit 600 and the adiabatic propertyof the refrigerant conduit 600.

The condensation module 500 may be coupled by a rear coupling unit ofthe machine room bottom frame 210. Air suctioned through thecondensation module 500 may cool the compressor 201 and then bedischarged downward from the compressor 201.

The machine room cover 700 may be coupled to a left side of the cavity100 to cover the machine room 200. An air flow for cooling may occur inan upper side of the machine room cover 700, and the controller 900 maybe provided on the cooling passage to perform sufficient cooling action.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the evaporation module.

Referring to FIG. 5, the evaporation module 400 includes a rear cover430 disposed at a rear side to accommodate the parts and a front cover450 disposed at a front side of the rear cover 430 to face the cavity100. A space may be provided in the evaporation module 400 by the frontcover 450 and the rear cover 430 to accommodate the parts in the space.

In the space defined by the front cover 450 and the rear cover 430, anevaporator 410 is disposed at a lower side, and an evaporation fan 420is disposed at an upper side. A centrifugal fan that is capable of beingmounted in a narrow space may be used as the evaporation fan 420. Moreparticularly, a sirocco fan including a fan inlet 422 having a largearea to suction air and a fan outlet 421 blowing the air at a high ratein a predetermined discharge direction in a narrow space may be used asthe evaporation fan 420.

Since the sirocco fan may be driven with low noise, it is also possibleto use the sirocco fan in a low noise environment.

The air passing through the evaporator 410 is suctioned into the faninlet 422, and the air discharged from the fan outlet 421 is dischargedto the cavity 100. For this, a predetermined space may be providedbetween the evaporation fan 420 and the rear cover 430.

A plurality of compartments may be provided in the rear cover 430 toaccommodate the parts. Particularly, the evaporator 410 and theevaporation fan 420 are disposed in a first compartment 431 to guide aflow of cool air. A lamp 440 may be disposed in a second compartment 432to brighten the inside of the cavity 100 so that the user looks theinside of the cavity 100. A temperature sensor 441 is disposed in afourth compartment 434 to measure an inner temperature of the cavity 100and thereby to control the vehicle refrigerator.

When the temperature sensor 441 disposed in the fourth compartment 434measures the inner temperature of the cavity 100, the flow in the cavitymay not have a direct influence on the third temperature sensor 441.That is, the cold air of the evaporator 410 may not have a directinfluence on the third compartment 433.

Although the third compartment 433 is removed in some cases, the thirdcompartment 433 may be provided to prevent an error of the innertemperature of the cavity 100 from occurring by conductive heat.

The fourth compartment 434 and the temperature sensor 441 are disposedat left upper end, i.e., an apex of the evaporation module 400, which isfarthest from the evaporator 410. This is to prevent the cold air fromhaving an influence on the evaporator 410. That is to say, to preventthe cold air of the evaporator from having a direct influence on thefourth compartment 434 through the conduction, the fourth compartment434 and the temperature sensor 441 may be isolated from the firstcompartment 431 by other compartments 432 and 433.

An inner structure of the first compartment 431 will be described indetail.

A fan housing 435 having a circular shape so that the evaporation fan420 is disposed is provided at an upper side of the first compartment431, and an evaporator placing part (or evaporator seat) 437 on whichthe evaporator 410 is placed is provided at a lower side of the firstcompartment 431.

A conduit passage 436 is provided in a left side of the fan housing 435.The conduit passage 436 may be a portion through which a refrigerantconduit 600 passing over the vacuum adiabatic body 101 is guided intothe evaporation module 400 and be provided in a left corner portion ofthe evaporation module 400. The refrigerant conduit 600 may include twoconduits that are surrounded by the adiabatic member so that the twoconduits through which the evaporation module 400 is inserted andwithdrawn are heat-exchanged with each other. Thus, the conduit passage436 may have a predetermined volume. The conduit passage 436 mayvertically extend from a left side of the evaporation module 400 toimprove space density inside the evaporation module 400.

As described above, the evaporator 410 and the evaporation fan 420 areprovided in the rear cover 430 to perform the cooling of air within thecavity and the circulation of air within the cavity.

The front cover 450 has an approximately rectangular shape like the rearcover 430. A cold air inflow hole 451 guiding the air inflow to thelower side of the evaporator 410 and a cold air discharge port 452aligned with the fan outlet 421 is defined in a lower portion of thefront cover 450. The cold air discharge port 452 may have a shape ofwhich an inner surface is smoothly bent forward to discharge air, whichis discharged downward from the evaporation fan 420, forward.

The front cover 450 aligned with the second compartment 432 may beopened, or a window 453 may be provided on the portion of the frontcover 450 so that light of the lamp 440 is irradiated into the cavity100.

A air vent hole 454 is defined in the front cover 450 aligned with thefourth compartment 434. The air discharged from the cold air dischargeport 452 circulates inside the cavity 100 and then is introduced intothe air vent hole 454. Thus, the inner temperature of the cavity 100 maybe more accurately detected. For example, the inner temperature of thecavity 100 may be erroneously measured by a large amount of cold airdischarged from the cold air discharge port 452. Here, the cold air maycause a static temperature inside the cavity to have a direct influencewithout affecting the cold air blown from the evaporation fan 420. Forthis, the fourth compartment 434 may be disposed at the uppermost rightend of the rear surface of the cavity.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an air flow outside a machine room ofthe vehicle refrigerator.

Referring to FIG. 6, air introduced into the suction port 5 moves to aleft side of the vehicle refrigerator through a space between the vacuumadiabatic body 101 defining a front wall of the cavity 100 and a frontsurface of the console space 4. Since a heating source is not providedat a right side of the vehicle refrigerator, the suction air may bemaintained at its original temperature.

The air moving to the left side of the vehicle refrigerator may bechanged in direction to a rear side to move along a top surface of themachine room cover 700 outside the machine room 200.

To smoothly guide the air flow, the machine room cover 700 may have aheight that gradually increases backward from the front surface 710.Also, to provide a region in which the controller 900 is disposed, andprevent the parts within the machine room from interfering in positionwith each other, a stepped part may be disposed on the top surface ofthe machine room 700.

In detail, a first stepped part 732, a second stepped part 733, and athird stepped part 735 may be successively provided backward from thefront surface. A controller placing part 734 having the same height asthe third stepped part is disposed on the second stepped part 733. Dueto this structure, the controller 900 may be disposed in parallel to thethird stepped part 735 and the controller placing part 734.

The air moving along the top surface of the machine room cover 700 maycool the controller 900. When the controller is cooled, the air may beslightly heated.

The air moving up to the rear side of the machine room cover 700 flowsdownward. An opened large cover suction hole is defined in the rearsurface of the machine room. For this, a predetermined space may beprovided between the rear surface of the machine room cover 700 and therear surface of the console space 4.

Thereafter, the air cooling the inside of the machine room cover 700 isdischarged to the outside through the bottom of the machine room.

As described above, the evaporation module 400 is disposed at a rearside of the cavity 100, and the refrigerant conduit 600 supplying therefrigerant into the evaporation module 400 passes over the cavity 100.In addition, a hinge of the door 800 and the evaporation module 400 areplaced on the rear side of the cavity so that a rear portion of thecavity is vulnerable to thermal insulation.

To solve this limitation, a hinge part adiabatic member is provided. Thehinge part adiabatic member 470 performs an adiabatic action on an upperportion of the evaporation module 400, between the evaporation module400 and a rear wall of the cavity 100, and a contact part between aregeneration adiabatic member 651 inserted into the cavity and an innerspace of the cavity. A rear surface and side surface of the evaporationmodule 400 may be thermally insulated by the cavity. The cavity may beinsulated by the third space provided in a vacuum state.

As described above, the console cover 300 is further provided above thehinge part adiabatic member 470 to lead to complete heat insulation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hinge part adiabatic member.

Referring to FIG. 7, the hinge part adiabatic member 470 includes theinner support 473 covering the regeneration adiabatic member 651 andinserted into the inner bearing 373, the outer support 472 inserted intothe outer bearing part 372, and the connection bar 471 connecting thesupports 472 and 473 to each other and thermally insulating an upperportion of the evaporation module 400.

Since the supports 472 and 473 are inserted into the bearing parts 372and 373, the hinge part adiabatic member and the console cover 300 maybe integrated with each other. Also, since the console cover 300 isinstalled, the hinge part adiabatic member 470 may be fixed with respectto the cavity 100. That is to say, the supports 472 and 473 may allowthe parts in a rear space within the cavity 100 to come into closelycontact with each other while supporting the evaporation module 400.Thus, the parts may come into strongly contact with each other toprevent the cold air from leaking. Also, the hinge action of the door800 may be more confirmed.

Each of the supports 472 and 473 may have a structure that graduallydecreases in cross-sectional area toward an end thereof so that thesupports 472 and 473 are inserted into the bearing parts 372 and 373.

The inner support 473 may have a thickness greater than that of theouter support 472. This is because heat loss may occur by theregeneration adiabatic member 651. It is understood that there is highpossibility of leakage of cold air by the regenerated adiabatic member651 passing over the vacuum adiabatic member.

A regeneration adiabatic member seating part or seat 476 having a shapethat properly matches an outer appearance of the regeneration adiabaticmember 651 is disposed on an inner surface of the inner support 473.Thus, the regeneration adiabatic member may be bent in a smooth arcshape. A lower end surface of the regeneration adiabatic member seatingpart 476 may be placed on the upper end of the vacuum adiabatic body101. Thus, a vertical position relationship between the hinge partadiabatic member 470 and the cavity 100 may be clear, and a gap betweenthe parts may not occur.

An inner fitting part 477 further extending downward from a rear portionof the regeneration adiabatic member seating part 476 may be furtherprovided. The inner fitting part 477 may correspond to an inner surfaceof the vacuum adiabatic body 101, and thus, the position relationship ofthe hinge part adiabatic member 470 in a front and rear direction may bemore clearly maintained. The outer fitting part 478 corresponding to theinner fitting part 477 may also be provided on the outer support 472.

A part on which the evaporation module 400 is seated to be fitted isprovided on the connection bar 471. Particularly, a cover seating part(or cover seat) 488, a fan housing seating part (or fan housing seat)474, and a second compartment seating part (or second compartment seat)475 may be provided. The relationship in position between the hinge partadiabatic member 470 and the cavity in the left and right direction maybe clear by the cover seating part 488, each of the fan housing seatingpart 474 and the second compartment seating part 475 is provided tocorrespond to an upper shape of the evaporation module 400 and therebyto prevent the cold air from leaking through the contact part betweenthe evaporation module and the hinge part adiabatic member.

According to the above-described constituents, the hinge part adiabaticmember may prevent external air from leaking through a boundary with thecontact part of various constituents coming into contact with the hingepart adiabatic member to enhance the adiabatic performance with respectto the portion that is vulnerable to heat leakage.

FIGS. 8 to 11 are plan, front, bottom, and left views of the hinge partadiabatic member.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the configuration of the hinge partadiabatic member and an action of each constituent may be more clearlyunderstood.

An outer fitting groove 480 and an inner fitting groove 479 are providedinside the supports 472 and 473, respectively. This is done foraccommodating a support portion of the console cover that becomesthicker to accommodate the hinge shaft of the door in the bearing parts372 and 373 provided on the console cover 300.

The second compartment seating part 475 may have a recessed structureand provide a path through which a structure such as a wire that is ledout of the evaporation module 400 passes to the outside.

A skirt 478 further extends downward to the inside of the regenerationadiabatic member seating part 476. The skirt 478 may be a portion thatfurther extends downward to help the perforation of the regenerationadiabatic member 651 that enters into the cavity 100.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a relationshipbetween the evaporation module and a hinge part adiabatic member.

Referring to FIG. 12, an inner support 473 covering the regenerationadiabatic member 651 and a conduit path 436 to improve an adiabaticeffect is disposed on the hinge part adiabatic member 470.

An outer support 472 covering the compartment to insulate the outside isdisposed on the hinge part adiabatic member 470.

A connection bar 471 connecting the supports 472 and 473 to each otherand thermally insulating an upper portion of the evaporation module 400is provided.

The hinge part adiabatic member 470 may support the evaporation module400 at the upper end to come into closely contact with each other whilesupporting the evaporation module 400. Thus, the parts may come intostrongly contact with each other to prevent the cold air from leaking.Also, the bearing parts 372 and 373 and the supports 472 and 473 may befitted with respect to each other to more firmly support the door 800.

The inner support 473 may have a thickness greater than that of theouter support 472. As described above, it is intended to prevent theheat loss that may occur due to the regeneration adiabatic member 651.

For this, the vertical position relationship between the hinge partadiabatic member 470 and the cavity 100 may be clear, and a gap betweenthe parts may not occur to more reduce the heat loss by the regenerationadiabatic member seating part 476 provided on the inner surface of theinner support 473.

The inner fitting part 477 and the outer fitting part 478 may beprovided to more reduce the cold air leakage from the cavity.

The fitting of the upper ends of the vacuum adiabatic body 101 and theevaporation module 400, which constitute the cavity 100, may beaccurately performed by the cover seating part 488, the fan housingseating part 474, and the second compartment seating part 475.

A wire may pass between the upper ends of the hinge part adiabaticmember 470 and the evaporation module so that current passes through thesensor and the light source, which are provided in the evaporationmodule. Therefore, an operation of the evaporation module may berealized.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the evaporation module, in whichthe left and right are respectively the rear and the front.

Referring to FIG. 13, the air flow inside the evaporation module 400 maybe illustrated by the arrows.

In detail, a flow of cold air will be described. The air introducedthrough the cold air inlet 451 on the lower side of the front cover iscooled while passing through the evaporator 410. The cooled air flows tothe rear of the evaporation fan 420, is introduced through the fan inlet422 on the rear surface of the evaporation fan 420, and is dischargeddownward toward the fan outlet 421 by centrifugal force. A sirocco fanmay be used as the evaporation fan, and a shape of the fan housing andthe positioning of the fan may be adjusted to set a direction of thedischarge port downward.

The air discharged from the fan outlet 421 is changed in direction intoa front side through the cold air discharge port 452 and then isdischarged to the inside of the cavity 100. A cold air discharge guide456 having a shape that is smoothly bent so that the air dischargeddownward is smoothly bent forward and discharged may be provided in thecold air discharge port 452.

Preferably, the inside of the cavity may be uniformly cooled.

For example, if the containers on one side and the other are cooled todifferent temperatures, a large number of people may not enjoy colddrinks together. In this point of view, it is important to note wherethe cold air discharge port 452 is formed on the front cover 450 andwhich direction the cold air is discharged.

FIG. 14 is a schematic front view illustrating the inside of the cavityso as to explain a position of the cold air discharge port.

Referring to FIG. 14, the cool air discharge port 452 is disposed toextend in the left and right direction from a substantially middleheight inside the cavity.

That is, when the inside of the cavity is divided into three parts, thecold air discharge port 452 is disposed at one-third portion of themiddle. As a result, the air discharged from the middle portion spreadsthrough the inner obstacles and then flows downward into the evaporationmodule 400. Also, the cold air discharge port 452 may be provided toextend horizontally and thus be widely spread in the left and rightdirection so that the air is uniformly spread into the cavity 100.

More preferably, the cold air discharge port 452 may be disposed fromthe bottom of the cavity 100 at one-three point from one point.

This is because the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port452 collides with the storage container disposed inside the cavity.Here, since an upper portion of the storage container 498 is smallerthan the body, the cool air may flow to the front of the cavity 100. Onthe contrary, since the body of the storage container 498 has a smallgap and thus high flow resistance, it is difficult that the cold airflows to the front of the cavity 100.

That is, since the cold air discharge port 452 is disposed betweenone-two point and two-three point from the bottom of the cavity 100, aflow of the cold air flowing to the front of the cavity 100 over theneck portion of the storage container and a flow of the cold air that isstopped at the rear side of the cavity 100 by colliding with the neckportion of the storage container may be provided together. Thus, aneffect that the front and rear sides inside the cavity 100 are cooledtogether, and thus, all the products placed in the cavity 100 may beuniformly cooled.

If other products do not interfere with each other, the cold airdischarge port 452 may be disposed at one-two point in the left andright direction. Thus, the cold flowing over the storage container 498,i.e., the cold air flowing over the spacing part between the storagecontainers 498 and the cold air does not flow over the spacing part maybe distinguished from each other. It is conceivable that two rows, i.e.,two beverage containers are accommodated in the cavity. This is adesirable form considering a size of the beverage container andconsidering the number of beverage containers that are provided in anarrow console space.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a discharge direction of cold air throughthe cold air discharge port, and FIGS. 16 to 18 are views for explainingexperimental results of FIG. 15. Here, a horizontal axis represents acooling time, and a vertical axis represents a temperature.

In FIG. 15, {circle around (1)} denote a case in which the cold airdischarge port 452 is installed at an approximately central portion whenviewed from the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the rear surfaceof the cavity to discharge the cold air to the right side with respectto FIG. 15, {circle around (2)} denote a case in which the cold airdischarge port 452 is installed at an approximately central portion whenviewed from the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the rear surfaceof the cavity to discharge the cold air upward directly with respect toFIG. 15, and {circle around (3)} denotes a case in which the cold airdischarge port 452 is installed at an upper side when viewed from theupper and lower sides of the rear surface of the cavity and at the rightside when viewed from the left and right of the rear surface of thecavity to discharge the cold air to the left side with respect to FIG.15.

Also, there are four storage containers 498 placed inside the cavity 100and assigned different numbers depending on their positions.

Referring to FIG. 16, it is seen that the container {circle around (1)}disposed at the front right side is quickly cooled, and it take about 22minutes to cool the container by about 10 degrees. Then, it is seen thatthe cooling is delayed in order of {circle around (2)}, {circle around(3)}, and {circle around (4)}.

In this case, it is confirmed that a deviation in cooling rate of thecontainers {circle around (1)}, {circle around (2)}, {circle around(3)}, and {circle around (4)} is excessive large.

Referring to FIG. 17, it is seen that the container {circle around (3)}disposed at the front left side is quickly cooled, and it take about 24minutes to cool the container by about 10 degrees. Then, it is seen thatthe cooling is delayed in order of {circle around (4)}, {circle around(1)}, and {circle around (2)}. It is confirmed that although the coolingrate of the storage container that is most rapidly cooled is slowed ascompared with the case of FIG. 16, the deviation in cooling rate of thestorage containers is reduced.

In this case, it is considered that the storage containers {circlearound (3)} and {circle around (4)} are more quickly cooled because ofthe property of the evaporation fan 420 provided as a centrifugal fan.In the case of FIG. 17, the present position is close to a position ofthe driver, and an effect of enhancing the driver's convenience may beobtained.

Referring to FIG. 18, it is seen that the container {circle around (4)}disposed at the front right side is quickly cooled, and it take about 28minutes to cool the container by about 10 degrees. Then, it is seen thatthe cooling is delayed in order of {circle around (2)}, {circle around(3)}, and {circle around (1)}. It is confirmed that the cooling rate ofthe storage container that is most rapidly cooled is more slowed ascompared with the case of FIG. 17, and the deviation in cooling rate ofthe storage containers is more reduced.

Referring to the case of each experiment described above, it is possibleto obtain a uniform cooling effect in the cavity 100, andsimultaneously, to achieve a rapid cooling effect at a specificposition. It is most preferable to directly discharge the air toward thefront side of the cavity 100 together with the up/down and left/rightpositions of the cold air discharge port 452 shown in FIG. 14.

It is also important to ensure that the specific storage container isquickly cooled, with the entire inner space of the cavity 100 beingallowed to cool uniformly. For example, it is important for the driverto be able to quickly cool down one storage container he or she will eatwhile driving alone.

An embodiment for accomplishing the uniform cooling inside the cavitytogether with the rapid cooling of a specific storage container ispresented below.

FIG. 19 is a view when uniform cooling is performed according to anembodiment, and FIG. 20 is a view when quick cooling is performedaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a container holder 460 for supporting astorage container is rotatably supported with respect to at least at oneof a rear cover 430 and a front cover 450 at the periphery of the coldair discharge port 452.

The container holder 460 is provided with an extension 463 which issupported by sides of the covers 430 and 450 to extend, a containerholding part 462 bent from an end of the extension 463 to allow a userto hold the storage container 498, and a holder handle 461 held by handsto allow the user to rotate or take out the container holder 460.

A cold air discharge louver 457 is disposed in the cold air dischargeport 452, and the cold air discharge louver 457 is rotatable togetherwith the rotation of the container holder 460.

For example, in the state in which the container holder 460 is foldedinto the evaporation module 400 (see FIG. 19), the louver 457 may bepositioned so that the cold air passing through the cold air dischargeport 452 flows straightly. In the sate in which the container holder 460is spread out of the evaporation module 400 (see FIG. 20), the louver457 may rotate so that the cold air passing through the cold airdischarge port 452 flows to the storage container 498.

The cold air discharge louver 457 may be disposed inside the cold airdischarge guide 456.

A connection structure between the container holder 460 and the cold airdischarge louver 457 will be described with reference to a configurationview of the cold air discharge louver illustrated in FIG. 21.

Referring to FIG. 21, the container holder 460 may rotate by a holdersupport shaft 466 with respect to one point of the covers 430 and 450.

Also, the cold air discharge louver 457 may rotate by a louver supportshaft 468 with respect to the other point of the covers 430 and 450. Theplurality of cold air discharge louvers 457 are connected to each otherby a parallel linkage 465 on the other side where the louver supportshaft 468 is provided. Thus, when one cold air discharge louver 457rotates, the other cold air discharge louver 457 may also rotate by theparallel linkage 465.

A slit 467 is defined in the container holder 460, and an insertion bar469 extending from the louver 457 may be inserted into the slit 467.

According to the above-described constituents, the following operationmay be performed.

The user holds the holder handle 461 of the container holder 460 torotate the holder handle 461. The user anticipates an action to bewithdrawn. When the container holder 460 rotates about the holdersupport shaft 466, the insertion bar 469 moves along the slit 467. Sincethe insertion bar 469 is provided as one body with the louver 457, thelouver 457 rotates about the louver support shaft 468. When one louver457 rotates, all the louvers 457 linked through the parallel linkage 465may rotate together.

Since the rotation of the container holder 460 and the rotation of thelouver 457 are linked with each other, when the louver 457 is disposedto be inclined, an angle of the louver 457 may be directed to a side atwhich the container holder 460 supports the storage container 498. Thatis, the angle may be directed to a side to which the container holdingpart 462 is provided.

Thus, the louver 457 may be directed to the storage container 498 sothat the cold air flows to the storage container 498. Thus, the storagecontainer supported by the container holder 460 may be quickly cooledbecause the cold air is directly injected.

In the case where there are many inertia directions and vibrations as inthe vehicle, cooling may be performed in a state where the position ofthe storage container is supported by the support operation by thecontainer holder 460.

Through the above-described operation, the rotation of the containerholder 460 and the rotation of the louver 467 may be linked to eachother. However, the size and angle of each part shown in FIG. 21 may bespecifically varied according to the size and rotation angle of thecontainer, and the drawings are only examples.

The rapid cooling with respect to a specific position inside the cavityis not limited to the above example. FIGS. 22 and 23 are viewsillustrating another example of the cold air discharge louver.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, a guider 470 having a predetermined spaceis provided on an outlet end of the cold air discharge guide 456, and aslider 475 guided by the guider 470 may be provided. Also, a vertical orstraight louver 471 that is directed to the front of the cavity and aninclined louver 472 that is inclined in a specific direction may beprovided together on the slider 475. The direction in which the inclinedlouvers 472 are directed may be a side close to the driver's side. Forexample, the direction may be a rear right side of the cavity.

When the slider 475 moves, uniform cooling with respect to the cavitymay be performed through alignment of the vertical louver 470 with thedischarge end of the cold air discharge guide 465 as illustrated in FIG.22. In this case, the cold air may be discharged in the verticaldirection, i.e., the front of the cavity by the guidance of the verticallouver 470.

On the other hand, the quick cooling with respect to the cavity may beperformed through alignment of the inclined louver 472 with thedischarge end of the cold air discharge guide 465 as illustrated in FIG.23. In this case, the cold air may be discharged in the inclineddirection, i.e., the rear of the cavity by the guidance of the inclinedlouver 472. In this case, a specific storage container may be quicklycooled.

The above-described configuration has two modes: a uniform cooling modein which a large number of storage containers are required to be cooledsuch as when there are a plurality of passengers, and a rapid coolingmode in which a small number of storage containers are required to becooled such as when only the driver boarded to maximize an effect ofactively performing the two modes.

The structure and action of the vacuum adiabatic body 101 will bedescribed in more detail.

FIG. 24 is a view illustrating an internal configuration of a vacuumadiabatic body according to various embodiments.

First, referring to FIG. 24a , a vacuum space part 50 is provided in athird space having a different pressure from first and second spaces,preferably, a vacuum state, thereby reducing adiabatic loss. The thirdspace may be provided at a temperature between the temperature of thefirst space and the temperature of the second space. A constituent thatresists heat transfer between the first space and the second space maybe referred to as a heat resistance unit. Hereinafter, all variousconstituents may be applied, or the various constituents may beselectively applied. In a narrow sense, a constituent that resists heattransfer between the plate members may be referred to as a heatresistance unit.

The third space is provided as a space in the vacuum state Thus, thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 receive a force contracting ina direction in which they approach each other due to a forcecorresponding to a pressure difference between the first and secondspaces. Therefore, the vacuum space part 50 may be deformed in adirection in which it is reduced. In this case, adiabatic loss may becaused due to an increase in amount of heat radiation, caused by thecontraction of the vacuum space part 50, and an increase in amount ofheat conduction, caused by contact between the plate members 10 and 20.

A supporting unit (or support structure) 30 may be provided to reducethe deformation of the vacuum space part 50. The supporting unit 30includes bars 31. The bars 31 may extend in a direction substantiallyvertical to the first and second plate members 10 and 20 so as tosupport a distance between the first and second plate members 10 and 20.A support plate 35 may be additionally provided to at least one end ofthe bar 31. The support plate 35 connects at least two bars 31 to eachother, and may extend in a direction horizontal to the first and secondplate members 10 and 20.

The support plate 35 may be provided in a plate shape, or may beprovided in a lattice shape such that its area contacting the first orsecond plate member 10 or 20 is decreased, thereby reducing heattransfer. The bars 31 and the support plate 35 are fixed to each otherat at least one portion, to be inserted together between the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 contacts at leastone of the first and second plate members 10 and 20, thereby preventingdeformation of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Inaddition, based on the extending direction of the bars 31, a totalsectional area of the support plate 35 is provided to be greater thanthat of the bars 31, so that heat transferred through the bars 31 may bediffused through the support plate 35.

A material of the supporting unit 30 may include a resin selected fromthe group consisting of PC, glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, PPS, andLCP so as to obtain high compressive strength, low outgassing and waterabsorption, low thermal conductivity, high compressive strength at hightemperature, and excellent machinability.

A radiation resistance sheet 32 for reducing heat radiation between thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 through the vacuum space part50 will be described. The first and second plate members 10 and 20 maybe made of a stainless material capable of preventing corrosion andproviding a sufficient strength. The stainless material has a relativelyhigh emissivity of 0.16, and hence a large amount of radiation heat maybe transferred. In addition, the supporting unit 30 made of the resinhas a lower emissivity than the plate members, and is not entirelyprovided to inner surfaces of the first and second plate members 10 and20. Hence, the supporting unit 30 does not have great influence onradiation heat. Therefore, the radiation resistance sheet 32 may beprovided in a plate shape over a majority of the area of the vacuumspace part 50 so as to concentrate on reduction of radiation heattransferred between the first and second plate members 10 and 20.

A product having a low emissivity may be preferably used as the materialof the radiation resistance sheet 32. In an embodiment, an aluminum foilhaving an emissivity of 0.02 may be used as the radiation resistancesheet 32. Also, at least one sheet of radiation resistance sheet 32 maybe provided at a certain distance so as not to contact each other. Atleast one radiation resistance sheet may be provided in a state in whichit contacts the inner surface of the first or second plate member 10 or20. Even when the vacuum space part 50 has a low height, one sheet ofradiation resistance sheet may be inserted. In case of the vehiclerefrigerator 7, one sheet of radiation resistance sheet may be insertedso that the vacuum adiabatic body 101 has a thin thickness, and theinner capacity of the cavity 100 is secured.

Referring to FIG. 24b , the distance between the plate members ismaintained by the supporting unit 30, and a porous substance 33 may befilled in the vacuum space part 50. The porous substance 33 may have ahigher emissivity than the stainless material of the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. However, since the porous substance 33 isfilled in the vacuum space part 50, the porous substance 33 has a highefficiency for resisting the radiation heat transfer.

In this embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be fabricated withoutusing the radiation resistance sheet 32.

Referring to FIG. 24c , the supporting unit 30 maintaining the vacuumspace part 50 is not provided. Instead of the supporting unit 30, theporous substance 33 is provided in a state in which it is surrounded bya film 34. In this case, the porous substance 33 may be provided in astate in which it is compressed so as to maintain the gap of the vacuumspace part 50. The film 34 is made of, for example, a PE material, andmay be provided in a state in which holes are formed therein.

In this embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be fabricated withoutusing the supporting unit 30. In other words, the porous substance 33may simultaneously serve as the radiation resistance sheet 32 and thesupporting unit 30.

FIG. 25 is a view of a conductive resistance sheet and a peripheralportion of the conductive resistance sheet.

Referring to FIG. 25a , the first and second plate members 10 and 20 areto be sealed so as to vacuum the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body.In this case, since the two plate members have different temperaturesfrom each other, heat transfer may occur between the two plate members.A conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided to prevent heat conductionbetween two different kinds of plate members.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided with sealing parts(or seals) 61 at which both ends of the conductive resistance sheet 60are sealed to defining at least one portion of the wall for the thirdspace and maintain the vacuum state. The conductive resistance sheet 60may be provided as a thin foil in unit of micrometer so as to reduce theamount of heat conducted along the wall for the third space. The sealingparts 61 may be provided as welding parts. That is, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be fused to eachother. In order to cause a fusing action between the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be made of thesame material, and a stainless material may be used as the material. Thesealing parts 61 are not limited to the welding parts, and may beprovided through a process such as cocking. The conductive resistancesheet 60 may be provided in a curved shape. Thus, a heat conductiondistance of the conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided longer thanthe linear distance of each plate member, so that the amount of heatconduction may be further reduced.

A change in temperature occurs along the conductive resistance sheet 60.Therefore, in order to block heat transfer to the exterior of theconductive resistance sheet 60, a shielding part (or shield) 62 may beprovided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60 such thatan adiabatic action occurs. In other words, in the vehicle refrigerator7, the second plate member 20 has a high temperature and the first platemember 10 has a low temperature. In addition, heat conduction from hightemperature to low temperature occurs in the conductive resistance sheet60, and hence the temperature of the conductive resistance sheet 60 issuddenly changed. Therefore, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 isopened to the exterior thereof, heat transfer through the opened placemay seriously occur.

In order to reduce heat loss, the shielding part 62 is provided at theexterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. For example, when theconductive resistance sheet 60 is exposed to any one of thelow-temperature space and the high-temperature space, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 does not serve as a conductive resistor as well asthe exposed portion thereof, which is not preferable.

The shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous substance contactingan outer surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60, may be providedas an adiabatic structure, e.g., a separate gasket, which is placed atthe exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60, or may be providedas the console cover 300 disposed at a position facing the conductiveresistance sheet 60.

A heat transfer path between the first and second plate members 10 and20 will be described. Heat passing through the vacuum adiabatic body maybe divided into surface conduction heat {circle around (1)} conductedalong a surface of the vacuum adiabatic body, more specifically, theconductive resistance sheet 60, supporter conduction heat {circle around(2)} conducted along the supporting unit 30 provided inside the vacuumadiabatic body, gas conduction heat {circle around (3)} conductedthrough an internal gas in the vacuum space part, and radiation transferheat {circle around (4)} transferred through the vacuum space part.

The transfer heat may be changed depending on various design dimensions.For example, the supporting unit may be changed such that the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20 may endure a vacuum pressure withoutbeing deformed, the vacuum pressure may be changed, the distance betweenthe plate members may be changed, and the length of the conductiveresistance sheet may be changed. The transfer heat may be changeddepending on a difference in temperature between the spaces (the firstand second spaces) respectively provided by the plate members. In theembodiment, a preferred configuration of the vacuum adiabatic body hasbeen found by considering that its total heat transfer amount is smallerthan that of a typical adiabatic structure formed by foamingpolyurethane. In a typical refrigerator including the adiabaticstructure formed by foaming the polyurethane, an effective heat transfercoefficient may be proposed as about 19.6 mW/mK.

By performing a relative analysis on heat transfer amounts of the vacuumadiabatic body of the embodiment, a heat transfer amount by the gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} may become smallest. For example,the heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}may be controlled to be equal to or smaller than 4% of the total heattransfer amount. A heat transfer amount by solid conduction heat definedas a sum of the surface conduction heat {circle around (1)} and thesupporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} is largest. For example,the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat may reach 75% ofthe total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by the radiationtransfer heat {circle around (4)} is smaller than the heat transferamount by the solid conduction heat but larger than the heat transferamount of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}. For example, theheat transfer amount by the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)}may occupy about 20% of the total heat transfer amount.

According to such a heat transfer distribution, effective heat transfercoefficients (eK: effective K) (W/mK) of the surface conduction heat{circle around (1)}, the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)},the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)} may have an order of Math Figure 1.

eK_(solid conduction heat)>eK_(radiation transfer heat)>eK_(gas conduction heat)  Math Figure 1

Here, the effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that maybe measured using a shape and temperature differences of a targetproduct. The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value thatmay be obtained by measuring a total heat transfer amount and atemperature at least one portion at which heat is transferred. Forexample, a calorific value (W) is measured using a heating source thatmay be quantitatively measured in the refrigerator, a temperaturedistribution (K) of the door is measured using heats respectivelytransferred through a main body and an edge of the door of therefrigerator, and a path through which heat is transferred is calculatedas a conversion value (m), thereby evaluating an effective heat transfercoefficient.

The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) of the entire vacuumadiabatic body is a value given by k=QL/AΔT. Here, Q denotes a calorificvalue (W) and may be obtained using a calorific value of a heater. Adenotes a sectional area (m2) of the vacuum adiabatic body, L denotes athickness (m) of the vacuum adiabatic body, and ΔT denotes a temperaturedifference.

For the surface conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may beobtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between an entrance andan exit of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63, a sectional area(A) of the conductive resistance sheet, a length (L) of the conductiveresistance sheet, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the conductiveresistance sheet (the thermal conductivity of the conductive resistancesheet is a material property of a material and may be obtained inadvance). For the supporter conduction heat, a conductive calorificvalue may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between anentrance and an exit of the supporting unit 30, a sectional area (A) ofthe supporting unit, a length (L) of the supporting unit, and a thermalconductivity (k) of the supporting unit. Here, the thermal conductivityof the supporting unit is a material property of a material and may beobtained in advance. The sum of the gas conduction heat {circle around(3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may beobtained by subtracting the surface conduction heat and the supporterconduction heat from the heat transfer amount of the entire vacuumadiabatic body. A ratio of the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)},and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may be obtained byevaluating radiation transfer heat when no gas conduction heat exists byremarkably lowering a vacuum degree of the vacuum space part 50.

When a porous substance is provided inside the vacuum space part 50,porous substance conduction heat {circle around (5)} may be a sum of thesupporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)}. The porous substance conduction heat {circlearound (5)} may be changed depending on various variables including akind, an amount, and the like of the porous substance.

In the second plate member, a temperature difference between an averagetemperature of the second plate and a temperature at a point at which aheat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60meets the second plate may be largest. For example, when the secondspace is a region hotter than the first space, the temperature at thepoint at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductiveresistance sheet meets the second plate member becomes lowest.Similarly, when the second space is a region colder than the firstspace, the temperature at the point at which the heat transfer pathpassing through the conductive resistance sheet meets the second platemember becomes highest.

This means that the amount of heat transferred through other pointsexcept the surface conduction heat passing through the conductiveresistance sheet should be controlled, and the entire heat transferamount satisfying the vacuum adiabatic body may be achieved only whenthe surface conduction heat occupies the largest heat transfer amount.To this end, a temperature variation of the conductive resistance sheetmay be controlled to be larger than that of the plate member.

Physical characteristics of the parts constituting the vacuum adiabaticbody will be described. In the vacuum adiabatic body, a force by vacuumpressure is applied to all of the parts. Therefore, a material havingstrength (N/m2) of a certain level may be used.

Referring to FIG. 25b , this configuration is the same as that of FIG.24a except that portions at which the first plate member 10, the secondplate member 20 are coupled to the conductive resistance sheet 60. Thus,the same part omits the description and only the characteristic changesare described in detail.

Ends of the plate members 10 and 20 may be bent to the second spacehaving a high temperature to form a flange part 65. A welding part 61may be disposed on a top surface of the flange part 65 to couple theconductive resistance sheet 60 to the flange part 65. In thisembodiment, the worker may perform welding while facing only any onesurface. Thus, since it is unnecessary to perform two processes, theprocess may be convenient.

It is more preferable to apply the case in which welding of the insideand the outside are difficult as illustrated in FIG. 25a because a spaceof the vacuum space part 50 is narrow like the vehicle refrigerator 7.

FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used.

Referring to FIG. 26, in order to create the vacuum space part 50 to bein the vacuum state, a gas in the vacuum space part 50 is exhausted by avacuum pump while evaporating a latent gas remaining in the parts of thevacuum space part 50 through heating. However, if the vacuum pressurereaches a certain level or more, there exists a point at which the levelof the vacuum pressure is not increased any more (Δt1). After that, thegetter is activated by disconnecting the vacuum space part 50 from thevacuum pump and applying heat to the vacuum space part 50 (Δt2). If thegetter is activated, the pressure in the vacuum space part 50 isdecreased for a certain period of time, but then normalized to maintaina vacuum pressure of a certain level. The vacuum pressure that maintainsthe certain level after the activation of the getter is approximately1.8×10−6 Torr.

In the embodiment, a point at which the vacuum pressure is notsubstantially decreased any more even though the gas is exhausted byoperating the vacuum pump is set to the lowest limit of the vacuumpressure used in the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby setting the minimuminternal pressure of the vacuum space part 50 to 1.8×10−6 Torr.

FIG. 27 is a graph obtained by comparing a vacuum pressure with gasconductivity.

Referring to FIG. 27, gas conductivities with respect to vacuumpressures depending on sizes of a gap in the vacuum space part 50 arerepresented as graphs of effective heat transfer coefficients (eK).Effective heat transfer coefficients (eK) were measured when the gap inthe vacuum space part 50 has three sizes of 2.76 mm, 6.5 mm, and 12.5mm. The gap in the vacuum space part 50 is defined as follows. When theradiation resistance sheet 32 exists inside vacuum space part 50, thegap is a distance between the radiation resistance sheet 32 and theplate member adjacent thereto. When the radiation resistance sheet 32does not exist inside vacuum space part 50, the gap is a distancebetween the first and second plate members.

It may be seen that, since the size of the gap is small at a pointcorresponding to a typical effective heat transfer coefficient of 0.0196W/mK, which is provided to an adiabatic material formed by foamingpolyurethane, the vacuum pressure is 2.65×10−1 Torr even when the sizeof the gap is 2.76 mm. Meanwhile, it may be seen that the point at whichreduction in adiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturatedeven though the vacuum pressure is decreased is a point at which thevacuum pressure is approximately 4.5×10−3 Torr. The vacuum pressure of4.5×10−3 Torr may be defined as the point at which the reduction inadiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated. Also, whenthe effective heat transfer coefficient is 0.1 W/mK, the vacuum pressureis 1.2×10−2 Torr.

When the vacuum space part 50 is not provided with the supporting unitbut provided with the porous substance, the size of the gap ranges froma few micrometers to a few hundreds of micrometers. In this case, theamount of radiation heat transfer is small due to the porous substanceeven when the vacuum pressure is relatively high, i.e., when the vacuumdegree is low. Therefore, an appropriate vacuum pump is used to adjustthe vacuum pressure. The vacuum pressure appropriate to thecorresponding vacuum pump is approximately 2.0×10−4 Torr. Also, thevacuum pressure at the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effectcaused by gas conduction heat is saturated is approximately 4.7×10−2Torr. Also, the pressure where the reduction in adiabatic effect causedby gas conduction heat reaches the typical effective heat transfercoefficient of 0.0196 W/mK is 730 Torr.

When the supporting unit and the porous substance are provided togetherin the vacuum space part, a vacuum pressure may be created and used,which is middle between the vacuum pressure when only the supportingunit is used and the vacuum pressure when only the porous substance isused.

Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described.

In above-described embodiment, the refrigerator applied to the vehiclehas been mainly described. However, the embodiment of the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the ideas of the presentdisclosure may be applied to a warming apparatus and a refrigerating orwarming apparatus. Of course, the embodiment of the present disclosureis not limited to a vehicle, but may be applied to any apparatus thatgenerates a desired temperature of a product. However, it would bepreferable for the vehicle refrigerator.

Particularly, in the case of the warming apparatus, a direction of therefrigerant may be configured to be opposite to that of therefrigerator. In the case of the refrigerating or warming apparatus,four sides that reverse the direction of the refrigerant may beinstalled on the refrigerant passage according to whether therefrigerant operates as a refrigerator or a warming apparatus.

The condensation module may be referred to as a first heat exchangemodule, and the evaporation module may be referred to as a second heatexchange module regardless of the change of the refrigerator and thewarming apparatus. Here, the first and second meanings denote thedivision of the heat exchange module and may be exchanged with eachother.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the embodiments, the vehicle refrigerator that receivesonly power from the outside and is independent apparatus may beefficiently realized.

1. A vacuum adiabatic body comprising: a first plate that defines atleast a portion of a first side of a wall adjacent to a first spacehaving a first temperature, the first space forming a cavity; a secondplate that defines at least a portion of a second side of the walladjacent to a second space having a second temperature different fromthe first temperature; a seal that seals the first plate and the secondplate to provide a third space between the first plate and the secondplate that has a third temperature between the first temperature and thesecond temperature and is in a vacuum state; a support that supports thefirst and second plates and is provided in the third space; a thermalinsulator that reduces heat transfer between the first plate and thesecond plate; a vacuum port through which a gas in the third space isdischarged; and a heat exchange module that contacts an inner surface ofthe cavity, wherein the heat exchange module comprises a heat exchangerand a fan configured to cycle air through the heat exchanger and thecavity.
 2. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 1, wherein theheat exchanger is an evaporator, and the heat exchange module furthercomprises a first compartment in which the fan and the evaporator areprovided.
 3. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 2, wherein theheat exchange module comprises a second compartment that is partitionedform the first compartment and configured to accommodate a temperaturesensor.
 4. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 3, furthercomprising a third compartment that is partitioned from the firstcompartment and the second compartment and configured to accommodate alamp, wherein the third compartment is provided between the firstcompartment and the second compartment.
 5. The vacuum adiabatic bodyaccording to claim 3, wherein the second compartment is at a first sideof the first compartment, and a conduit passage, through which arefrigerant conduit passes, is provided at a second side, opposite thefirst side.
 6. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 2, whereinthe fan comprises a centrifugal fan and suctions air from a rear side ofthe evaporator to discharge the air downward into the cavity.
 7. Thevacuum adiabatic body according to claim 3, wherein the secondcompartment is provided at a top of the first side of the heat exchangemodule.
 8. A refrigerating or warming apparatus comprising: a cavityhaving at least one sidewall that is a vacuum adiabatic body; a machineroom provided at a first side of the cavity; a refrigerator bottom frameon which the cavity and the machine room are seated; a compressorprovided in the machine room and configured to compress a refrigerant; afirst heat exchange module provided in the machine room and configuredto allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged; a second heat exchangemodule accommodated in the cavity and corresponding to at least onesidewall of the cavity to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged;and a temperature sensor provided in the second heat exchange module andconfigured to measure a temperature of the cavity.
 9. The refrigeratingor warming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the temperaturesensor is provided at an upper portion of the second heat exchangemodule.
 10. The refrigerating or warming apparatus according to claim 8,wherein the second heat exchange module comprises a first compartmentprovided at a lower side of the second heat exchange module andincluding an evaporator and a sirocco fan provided above the evaporator.11. The refrigerating or warming apparatus according to claim 10,further comprising a second compartment provided adjacent to the firstcompartment and a third compartment in which the temperature sensor isprovided, the third compartment being adjacent to the second compartmentand spaced apart from the first compartment.
 12. The refrigerating orwarming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sirocco fan isconfigured to suction air through a rear side thereof and discharge airto a lower side thereof.
 13. The refrigerating or warming apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor communicates withthe cavity.
 14. A refrigerator comprising: a first plate that defines atleast a portion of a first wall adjacent to a first space having a firsttemperature; a second plate that defines at least a portion of a secondwall adjacent to a second space having a second temperature differentfrom the first temperature; a seal that seals the first plate and thesecond plate to provide a third space between the first plate and thesecond plate that has a third temperature between the first temperatureand the second temperature and is in a vacuum state; a support thatsupports the third space; a thermal insulator that reduces heat transferbetween the first plate and the second plate; a vacuum port throughwhich air in the third space is discharged; a cover that closes at leasta portion of an opening of the cavity that is defined by the firstspace; a first heat exchange module provided in the first space andconfigured to evaporate a refrigerant; a second heat exchange moduleprovided in the second space and configured to condense the refrigerant;and a conduit which connects the first heat exchange module to thesecond heat exchange module and through which the refrigerant flows,wherein the first heat exchange module is arranged on an inner surfaceof the cavity, at least one side surface and a rear surface of the firstheat exchange module are thermally insulated by the third space that isin a vacuum state, and a top surface of the first heat exchange moduleis thermally insulated by a separate adiabatic member.
 15. Therefrigerator according to claim 14, further comprising a cover thatdefines an inner space of the first heat exchange module, wherein thecover comprises: a rear cover; and a front cover connected to the rearcover and comprising a cold air suction port at a lower portion thereofand a cold air discharge port at a center of the front cover.
 16. Therefrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the cold air discharge portis provided at a location between one half and two thirds from thebottom of the cavity.
 17. The refrigerator according to claim 15,wherein the cold air discharge port is provided at a lateral center ofthe cavity to discharge cold air.
 18. The refrigerator according toclaim 15, further comprising: a fan provided in an inner space of thefirst heat exchange module; and a louver supported by the cover andconfigured to guide a flow of the cold air discharged from the fan. 19.The refrigerator according to claim 18, further including a containerholder attached to the cover and configured to be rotated, wherein anorientation of the louver is adjusted when the container holder isrotated.
 20. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the louvercomprises a first plurality of blades, wherein each of the firstplurality of blades is perpendicular to a front surface of the frontcover; and a second plurality of blades, wherein each of the secondplurality of blades is angled less than 90° with respect to the frontsurface of the front cover.